Members ATtendance

VISITORS:  Bryony Hansen, Golder Associates; Elizabeth Miles (interested UI employee); Eddy Teasdale; Kathleen Warnick.

1)     Call to Order AND APPROVAL of FEBRuary 21, 2002 Minutes-
Jay Becker (Chair) called the meeting to order at 2:40 PM.  Minutes for the February 21, 2002 meeting were approved with minor changes to the Golder Associates ASR presentation material.

2)      pReview of 2002 annual report by Eddy Teasdale –  Eddy has compiled a draft of the 2002 Annual Report  which is now being reviewed by Printing and Design.  Eddy showed Power Point slides highlighting the progress and events covered in the 2002 Annual Report.  The presentation included:

a)     A review of the history of groundwater levels in both aquifers:
 1.  The Grande Ronde aquifer levels in the Pullman, Palouse and DOE wells continue to fall at a consistent rate of about one and a half feet per year.
 2.  Grande Ronde water levels in the Moscow area are much more erratic than in the Pullman area but appear to be leveling out, possibly indicating some recharge to the aquifer in the vicinity of Moscow. 
 3.  The Wanapum aquifer water levels in the Moscow area, at least in the City wells, have started down again after a significant rise over the last 30 years.  The reasons for the recent downturn in water levels are not clear at this time.  If it was due to reduced recharge from drier than normal years, the current wet year should clarify that.
 4.  The good news is that entity pumping from the Grande Ronde went down by about 1 percent in 2001 despite a hot, dry summer.

b)     The Workplan for 2002 includes:
1.  Continue research to better understand the basin.  This includes refining where the north and west boundaries are; where recharge occurs; whether there are sub-basins; what mixing of Wanapum and Grande Ronde water will do to water chemistry and microbiology; and how much water is available from the Moscow Mountain front for diversion to direct use and recharge.
2.  Aggressively seek out funding sources that will multiply the effectiveness of PBAC’s limited research funds.
3.  Complete and publish the revised PBAC Groundwater Management Plan.
4.  Continue to increase public awareness of ways to conserve and be more efficient in using water.
5.  Convert the PBAC web page from HTML to Front Page.
6.  Specific Research Projects
     A.  Evaluate Water Chemistry and Microbiology for the Wanapum and Grande Ronde aquifers.
     B.  Evaluate Quantity and Quality of Runoff from Moscow Mountain Range.
     C.  Evaluate potential Passive Recharge Sites and select one for a Pilot Project.
     D.  Complete OK research and decide on next steps.
7.  Continue to monitor ground water levels in detail.
8.  Devise a project or mechanism to determine whether there are sub-basins in the Moscow-Pullman portion of the Palouse Basin.

c)      Eddy suggested that PBAC expand the groundwater level monitoring to improve our ability to make projections and to gather better data for the next model.

3)     Status on Proposed  Projects and Research Support

a)     Kirkland reported that he had gotten a scope of work draft for the Moscow Mountain Runoff Project.  He is in the process of working out a few more details with Fritz Fiedler and Jerry Fairley.  Jeff Fealko, a UI graduate student who will be working on this project, is already working with Professor Jan Boll to get up to speed on historical monitoring work and current related projects.  Although the project will not collect as much data as originally hoped from this winter and spring runoff, some data are being collected from other sources which will be valuable in the stochastic analysis.

b)     Jim Osiensky has apparently been gone for spring break.  Kirkland is still working with him and Idaho DEQ to refine the scope of work for this project.  The intent is to set up a two year project that will evaluate water chemistry of the two aquifers before a pilot recharge drainage well project is undertaking and then afterwards if the preliminary data indicate such a recharge project will not adversely impact either water supply.  This topic will continue to be pursued.
DEQ said there is no money for matching this fiscal year but there should be for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2002.  DEQ personnel indicated there is a high probability of matching funding in the 2003 fiscal year.   A request will be turning for FY 2003 matching funds.

c)      Kirkland also reported that he has been in communication with people at the Idaho Department of Water Resources.  They have volunteered to help find the right project that will be fundable and meet PBAC needs.  Roy Mink has also volunteered to help with this.  The most promising project at this time is the drilling of one or two wells for a pilot recharge project which would permit and monitor drainage of Wanapum water into the Grande Ronde aquifer in the Moscow area.  The earliest this project could occur is in the fall after the initial phase of the water chemistry and microbiology work is completed.

d)     Kirkland said he was looking into the possibility that PBAC could get funding help from the Bureau of Reclamation by tagging onto the request being made by the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene chambers and others for a major study of the Rathdrum Prairie aquifer.   Bob Haynes, Regional Manager for IDWR, who is working with the various interest groups concerning the Rathdrum Prairie aquifer, suggested looking into this option.  Until more information is available this is an “iffy” option. 

4)     Followup on the Presentation by Golder Associates on ASR – Kirkland reviewed a few of the key points from the presentation applicable to the Palouse Basin.  Several PBAC members expressed appreciation for the presentation.  No further action was taken on this topic at this time.

5)     Highlights from Entity Action Plans for the Coming year – Kirkland handed out a summary sheet with key activities from all four entity action plans for the coming year.  He asked that entities email him any additions that might come to mind after reading the compilation. 

6)     OLD BUSINESS

a)     Renewal of Intergovernmental Agreement –   Jay Becker is working on revisions to the legal agreement.  

b)     Palouse Basin WRIA –  Rob Buchert said he is still working out the details of the agreement with Washington DOE.  He thought the first planning session would probably be in June.

7)     REPORTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

a)     Exposure in the Communities –  Pete Grigas said WSU will be talking with Parametrics Engineering in April about design work for a Pullman-WSU effluent recycling (irrigation) project.
        Terry Ryan said the drilling for the new WSU well # 8 would probably start in the next couple months.  It is anticipated to be on line by the end of the calendar year.  The well will be about 1000 feet deep and located on the east side of campus where several water lines already exit.  The well will be designed to pump up to 3000 gpm.  Initially it will only pump 1500 gpm because that is the limit for the water right on well 6 which is being transferred to well 8.   Eventually other water rights will be added to allow the higher pumping rate. 
        Mark Workman said the results of the Aqua Freed test on Pullman well # 6 has not been as beneficial as hoped.   The productivity of well 6 has not increased as hoped and Pullman has had sufficient water quality problems resulting from the CO2 injections that they have had to take the well off line.  They have also had bad hardness samples and low PH in spite of many hours of pumping of the well to remove the effects of the CO2 injections.
        Tom Scallorn said the Moscow Water Department just finished a department evaluation by a team of four brought in by the AWWA.  Lots of information was collected and Tom thought it worked out well.  It cost $24,000.

8)     NEW BUSINESS –     Kirkland asked if any of the entities might have openings for student help.  UI has a student work fair in early April which seeks to bring students and interested employers together.  PBAC has attended previous fairs and it has resulted in some student projects and help.  Kirkland said he thought it would be good to attend to see what student interest was available. Kirkland also said he is making a presentation on the water supply in the Palouse Basin to the Whitman County Chapter of the Spokane Homebuilders Association next week.

9)     NEXT MEETING DATE

The meeting was adjourned by consensus.

Respectfully Submitted,

Larry Kirkland